Houston’s 10 Best Football-Watching Bars

Houston consistently ranks among the liveliest cities in Texas, but during football season that excitement ratchets up a few notches. The Texans are front-runners to win their division, the University of Houston is ranked in the Top 20, LSU is again a national title contender, and Texas A&M is sure to put an exciting product on the field. Hell, even the Texas Longhorns are hopeful this is finally the year things turn around in the post-Mack Brown era.

Of course, nothing beats watching your favorite team in person, but then again, that isn’t always possible. Fortunately, Houston’s bar scene doesn’t lack when it comes to prime football-watching spots.

T-Bones Sports Pub

Clint Hale

10. T-BONES SPORTS PUB T-Bones, tucked away in a strip mall near the Heights, is the consummate no-frills sports bar. If you want a high-class drinking and dining experience, look elsewhere. But if you want quality bar food, cheap drinks and sports on TV, this is the place. T-Bones offers the NFL Sunday Ticket package, so all games are broadcast on Sundays. In addition, the bar carries MLB Extra Innings and all Rockets games during the football offseason. (1971 W. TC Jester, tbonessportspub.com)

Doc's Motorworks Bar & Grill

Kelli Durham

9. DOC’S MOTORWORKS BAR & GRILL If Doc’s feels a little Austin-y, that’s because it is; the bar originated in Austin in 2005. Simply put, Doc's has a laid-back quality to it, even during football games when emotions run high. The bar also features televisions aplenty and a bevy of beer and cocktails. Plus, Doc’s serves brunch from 11-3 on weekends, making it the ideal spot to grab some grub, post up, and watch the early games. As a bonus, parties of eight or more can host their fantasy-football drafts at Doc’s; before September 1, those who do so earn 25 free wings and a pitcher of beer. (1303 Westheimer, docsrestauranthoustontx.com)

Beer Market Co.

HP Staff

8. BEER MARKET CO. If you’re a non-Texans fan looking to enjoy your team’s game on Sunday, best to look elsewhere, as Beer Market is an all-Texans, all-the-time kind of joint. The bar does showcase an array of college games, and those who come in on weekends can score $19 Karbach buckets while watching the games on any number of indoor and patio TVs. And the beer selection, my God, the beer selection! Even the most educated beer snob is likely to find something new at Beer Market, which, by the way, serves up some mean fried mac n’ cheese balls. (920 Studemont #900, beermarketco.com)

Revelry on Richmond

HP Staff

7. REVELRY ON RICHMOND Hell, “fun” is right there in the bar’s name, and Revelry delivers it in spades. The bar offers craft beer lovers any number of options, and the 40 rotating local and select brews keep them coming back for more. In addition to live music on weekends, Revelry also serves as a go-to spot for pigskin lovers via an array of sports on TV. Plus, $20 craft buckets, $11 mimosa carafes and $2 off house-made Bloody Marys are a fine way to ring in the big game. (1613 Richmond, revelryonrichmond.com)

6. LUCKY’S PUB Hey, it’s not just the best St. Patrick’s Day spot in town. Lucky’s is also among the prime spots in the city for your football viewing pleasure. The two-story location in the Heights — the third to open in the Houston area — offers nearly 40 beers on tap, as well as more than enough TVs to showcase all the big games at once. Thursday night football is a particular hit at Lucky’s, thanks to cheap wings and discounted pitchers of beer. (Three Houston area locations, luckyspub.com)

Griff's

HP Staff

5. GRIFF’S Griff’s bills itself as the oldest sports bar in Houston. Open since 1965, the venerable Montrose pub is home to Griff’s Army, a group of “sports enthusiasts of amateur, college, semi-pro and professionals teams.” Wanna become a member? Just show up and cheer your team on. Do so while enjoying 25 beers and watching football on 22 television sets. Plus, on Texans game day, free Jell-O shots when the Texans score a touchdown. Come on Osweiler! (3416 Roseland, griffshouston.net)